Jersey Journal file photoJersey City City Councilman at large Rolando Lavarro has endorsed Newark City Council President Donald Payne Jr. in his bid to represent the 10th congressional district.

Newark City Council President and congressional candidate Donald Payne Jr. has picked up another endorsement on this side of the Pulaski Skyway, with Jersey City City Councilman at large Rolando Lavarro endorsing Payne’s congressional bid.

Payne is seeking to fill the seat vacated when his father, Donald Payne Sr., died March 6. In a statement, Lavarro called Payne “another in a long line of fighters for the people.”

“The underprivileged, the unrepresented are the focus of Donald Payne and his accomplishments, just as they were his father,” Lavarro said.

Payne is battling five other Democrats in the June 5 primary. The candidates are hoping to represent the 10th congressional district, which includes the westernmost portions of Jersey City and Bayonne, in addition to parts of Essex and Union counties.

The winner of the primary is expected to win the November General Election in this heavily Democratic district.

Lavarro, who calls himself an “independent Democrat” in his statement endorsing Payne, was elected to the City Council in November after a special election to fill two at-large vacancies. He ran with Councilwoman at large Viola Richardson, the other victor in the race.

Last week, Payne received the endorsement of Ward E Councilman and mayoral hopeful Steve Fulop, who received Payne’s endorsement in return.